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Top 10 College Football Teams of All Time

Since 1963, PARADE has recognized the nation's best high school football players with our annualPARADE All America awards. Many of these players go on to play at top-ranked colleges. But whichschools have fielded the best squads? We've looked back over the last century to identify the Top10 College Football Teams of All Time.

Check out our list, cast your vote, and tell us which teams we missed in the comments sectionbelow.

[Note: Teams are listed by the year in which the fall football season occured.]

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1. Nebraska, 1995

With the motto, “The team that can’t be beat won't be beat," the 1995 Cornhuskers dominated theircompetition all season long, posting several 50-plus point games and shutting down offenses. Forthe second year in a row, quarterback Tommie Frazier led his team to an undefeated season and aNational Championship against Florida. Some Big Red fans might argue the 1971 team was better, butfor sheer gridiron dominance, the 1995 squad stands peerless in the history of college football.

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2. Miami, 2001

The Hurricanes combined the best offense, defense and special teams in college football of 2001 --and arguably of all time. After posting a 12-0 season led by All-American quarterback Ken Dorseyand running back Clinton Portis, Miami dismantled the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Rose Bowl andtook home their fifth National Championship after winning 37-14.

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3. USC, 1972

Before the season began, the Trojans were ranked No. 8 in the country. By the end, the team wasunanimously No.1. Chalking up a perfect season under the leadership of head coach John McKay, USCwent on to crush the Ohio State Buckeyes 42-17 to win the National Championship. Moreover,quarterback Sam Cunningham set a Rose Bowl record by scoring four touchdowns.

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4. Army, 1945

With World War II ending just before the season began, 1945 was a great year for Army. The team wasled by fullback Felix "Doc" Blanchard and tailback Glenn Davis, who were known respectively as Mr.Inside and Mr. Outside. Throughout their 9-0 season, the team posted an average game score of 46-5,and easily secured the votes to be named National Champions.

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5. Florida State, 1999

If a perfect 12-0 season and a decisive victory over Virginia Tech in Sugar Bowl weren’t enough tosecure their place in history, the 1999 Seminoles were the first college football team ever to beranked No. 1 “wire-to-wire” – that is, every week from the preseason to the Championship.Quarterback Chris Weinke took home the Heisman .

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6. Notre Dame, 1988

Arguably the best college football program in history, Notre Dame fielded its strongest team in1988 under the leadership of the legendary Lou Holtz, who won National Coach of the Year. As anunderdog in the rankings, the Fighting Irish routed the top three teams – Miami, USC and WestVirginia – on the way to win their 10th National Championship.

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7. Oklahoma, 1956

The Sooners went undefeated for their third consecutive year to bring home a back-to-back NationalChampionship after edging out Tennessee in the final ranking. For lead coach Bud Wilkinson, 47 musthave been a lucky number. Oklahoma averaged 47 points per game this season, while building on arecord-setting 47-game winning streak.

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8. Alabama, 1992

The Crimson Tide fielded its best team in history while celebrating its 100th season. After goingundefeated, Alabama shut down Miami’s powerhouse offense in the Sugar Bowl. Perhaps the mostlegendary play in Alabama history, defensive back George Teague doggedly chased down Miami widereceiver Lamar Thomas after he completed a pass. Just as Thomas was about to score an 89-yardtouchdown, Teague surprised him by catching up and stripping away the ball.

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9. Michigan, 1947

The 1947 Wolverines are the only team in our Top 10 who did not win the National Championship thatyear. They are recognized for their brilliant, complicated, and highly deceptive offensive plays.Head coach Fritz Crisler called his offense the “Mad Magicians” and many plays called for more thanfour or five men to handle the ball, making the most of handoffs and laterals. The Wolverines wentundefeated, but Notre Dame scored more votes as best team.

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10. Florida, 1996

Led by renowned coach Steve Spurrier, the 1996 Gators fielded one of the strongest offenses incollege football history, averaging about 48 points per game. In the championship, they faced theonly team that beat them in the regular season: Florida State. The Gators crushed their arch-rivalsin the Sugar Bowl 52-20, led by Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel.

Top 10 College Football Teams of All Time

Since 1963, PARADE has recognized the nation's best high school football players with our annualPARADE All America awards. Many of these players go on to play at top-ranked colleges. But whichschools have fielded the best squads? We've looked back over the last century to identify the Top10 College Football Teams of All Time.

Check out our list, cast your vote, and tell us which teams we missed in the comments sectionbelow.

[Note: Teams are listed by the year in which the fall football season occured.]

1 of 12

Getty Images

1. Nebraska, 1995

With the motto, “The team that can’t be beat won't be beat," the 1995 Cornhuskers dominated theircompetition all season long, posting several 50-plus point games and shutting down offenses. Forthe second year in a row, quarterback Tommie Frazier led his team to an undefeated season and aNational Championship against Florida. Some Big Red fans might argue the 1971 team was better, butfor sheer gridiron dominance, the 1995 squad stands peerless in the history of college football.

2 of 12

Getty Images

2. Miami, 2001

The Hurricanes combined the best offense, defense and special teams in college football of 2001 --and arguably of all time. After posting a 12-0 season led by All-American quarterback Ken Dorseyand running back Clinton Portis, Miami dismantled the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Rose Bowl andtook home their fifth National Championship after winning 37-14.

3 of 12

Getty Images

3. USC, 1972

Before the season began, the Trojans were ranked No. 8 in the country. By the end, the team wasunanimously No.1. Chalking up a perfect season under the leadership of head coach John McKay, USCwent on to crush the Ohio State Buckeyes 42-17 to win the National Championship. Moreover,quarterback Sam Cunningham set a Rose Bowl record by scoring four touchdowns.

4 of 12

Getty Images

4. Army, 1945

With World War II ending just before the season began, 1945 was a great year for Army. The team wasled by fullback Felix "Doc" Blanchard and tailback Glenn Davis, who were known respectively as Mr.Inside and Mr. Outside. Throughout their 9-0 season, the team posted an average game score of 46-5,and easily secured the votes to be named National Champions.

5 of 12

Getty Images

5. Florida State, 1999

If a perfect 12-0 season and a decisive victory over Virginia Tech in Sugar Bowl weren’t enough tosecure their place in history, the 1999 Seminoles were the first college football team ever to beranked No. 1 “wire-to-wire” – that is, every week from the preseason to the Championship.Quarterback Chris Weinke took home the Heisman .

6 of 12

Getty Images

6. Notre Dame, 1988

Arguably the best college football program in history, Notre Dame fielded its strongest team in1988 under the leadership of the legendary Lou Holtz, who won National Coach of the Year. As anunderdog in the rankings, the Fighting Irish routed the top three teams – Miami, USC and WestVirginia – on the way to win their 10th National Championship.

7 of 12

Getty Images

7. Oklahoma, 1956

The Sooners went undefeated for their third consecutive year to bring home a back-to-back NationalChampionship after edging out Tennessee in the final ranking. For lead coach Bud Wilkinson, 47 musthave been a lucky number. Oklahoma averaged 47 points per game this season, while building on arecord-setting 47-game winning streak.

8 of 12

Getty Images

8. Alabama, 1992

The Crimson Tide fielded its best team in history while celebrating its 100th season. After goingundefeated, Alabama shut down Miami’s powerhouse offense in the Sugar Bowl. Perhaps the mostlegendary play in Alabama history, defensive back George Teague doggedly chased down Miami widereceiver Lamar Thomas after he completed a pass. Just as Thomas was about to score an 89-yardtouchdown, Teague surprised him by catching up and stripping away the ball.

9 of 12

Getty Images

9. Michigan, 1947

The 1947 Wolverines are the only team in our Top 10 who did not win the National Championship thatyear. They are recognized for their brilliant, complicated, and highly deceptive offensive plays.Head coach Fritz Crisler called his offense the “Mad Magicians” and many plays called for more thanfour or five men to handle the ball, making the most of handoffs and laterals. The Wolverines wentundefeated, but Notre Dame scored more votes as best team.

10 of 12

Getty Images

10. Florida, 1996

Led by renowned coach Steve Spurrier, the 1996 Gators fielded one of the strongest offenses incollege football history, averaging about 48 points per game. In the championship, they faced theonly team that beat them in the regular season: Florida State. The Gators crushed their arch-rivalsin the Sugar Bowl 52-20, led by Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel.